Snub By Buffalo Still Pains Odomes
Nate Odomes refuses to let his second major knee operation in 13 months “Buffalo” his career.
His right knee still aches from Monday’s surgery, but that pain doesn’t compare to what he believes the Buffalo Bills did to him. He played for the Bills seven seasons, started 107 of 108 games, played in four Super Bowls and earned two trips to the Pro Bowl. Their lack of interest in him as a free agent cut through his soul like a knife.
“The last team I played for, I was in the free market and they didn’t make an offer to me,” Odomes said of the Bills. “Because of that, not competing as a Seahawk would probably be a bigger disappointment to me than losing four Super Bowls. There is lot of motivation in getting up in the morning even when I don’t feel well to make that dream come true.”
Odomes comes to the Seahawks facility daily to work with the trainers on his knee. He’ll do a minimum of three hours of agonizing exercise on a continuous motion machine at home.Effort didn’t cost him his second consecutive season. Seahawks doctors and trainers simply consider it bad luck, a contagious disease for a franchise that has grown accustomed to it the past few years.
“He worked his tail off, coming into the training room no less than five days a week and often seven days,” Seahawks trainer Jim Whitesel said. “He was doing everything. There was no indication whatsoever that he would have another problem.
A week ago Sunday, Odomes planted his foot innocently on the practice field grass trying to turn to cover a receiver. The knee twisted ever so slightly. For hours, Odomes thought he simply tore scar tissue that built up in his first major reconstruction 13 months ago.
Later, he learned he generated enough torque to sever the anterior cruciate ligament and also rip cartilage.
Believing that Odomes can come back from two such operations and knowing that he turns 30 this fall isn’t easy.
“As far as me healing, I’m doing fine,” Odomes said. “My future is bright. I went through seven camps, seven regular seasons, six playoff appearances and four Super Bowls. I don’t think it will be a situation where I will forget how to play football. My main concern right now is to get my body healthy so I will be able to compete at the level I’m used to competing at.”
And he’ll have the Bills motivating him for one more chance.
Notes
Free agent linebacker Michael Barber dislocated his right shoulder during a goal line drill. While he played at Clemson, Barber required surgery on the same shoulder. He is expected to miss a couple days of practice… The Seahawks had 16 goal line or short-yardage plays in which tackling was allowed. There was a balance of overpowering running and solid defensive hits to highlight the session Friday…. Coach Dennis Erickson put the pressure on kickers Todd Peterson and Judd Davis by telling the team that if they made field goal attempts conditioning drills would be eliminated Friday and today. Peterson and Davis went 6 for 6 from various distances…. Erickson will have a 30-to-40 play scrimmage today.